Shot outside on the beautiful Miami beach, drenched in color, sunlight, and accessories, Iman was styled in an edgy black VS nylon and lycra swimsuit, as well as designs from Gucci, white bandage Hervé Léger swimsuit by Max Azria and Lanvin. She shared her secret with Elle on how to be a smokin’ bombshell, a job she makes look effortless.

“Being on the cover of American Elle … is just incredible, and it makes me feel ‘like wow’, I get to achieve … one of my dreams [laughs]. So I’m just honored to be apart of the Elle family,” says Iman.

Every girl wants to know the secret to being a bombshell, and Iman gave Elle the inside scoop. “Any woman who has a positive attitude about herself and carries herself with class, but doesn’t try too hard and say, ‘Hey look at me, I’m a bombshell,’ is basically a bombshell. It’s just a woman with a positive, strong attitude who knows she has it going on.”

Check out the behind the scenes Elle cover shoot video where the adorable Victoria Secret bombshells talk about the first time they received their angel wings, what super models inspire them, their favorite designers, and coveted secrets that keep them beautiful.

The issue features each supermodel on various covers and hits newsstands Sept. 20. –mckenzie harris